Mantas Ivanauskas

The Work Excerpt

Tell us a little about yourself:

I have been in Chicago for around 20 years now. I moved here as a kid from Lithuania and have resided in the city and the suburbs ever since. I got into photography around the age of 12 and had my first paid assignment at 13. Photography has always been a passion of mine. I majored in Psychology and Sociology in undergrad and hope to get into the public health sphere when I can find the time and money to pursue my master’s degree.

What kinds of art do you create?

I primarily shoot nightlife and weddings. I love working with new faces and brands in the Chicagoland area, but have fallen deeper in love with music and capturing important occasions for people.

How did you get started?

My dad helped me purchase my first Sony DSLR camera a decade ago and helped me book my first few gigs. I now shoot on Canon. Being apart of the local Lithuanian community has also played a major role in my continued ability to shoot events because many of my clients each year are from within my ethnicity.

In one sentence, briefly describe your artistic style:

Taking advantage of the light around me to capture a moment or a memory that can be looked back upon for generations to come (if those pesky hard drives stop failing).